Fansided

30 Olympic athletes who dominated their events

By Patrick Morgan

Jul 9, 2015; Montreal, CAN; A general view as fireworks illuminate the olympic rings on top the Canada Olympic House during the Excellence Day. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2015; Montreal, CAN; A general view as fireworks illuminate the olympic rings on top the Canada Olympic House during the Excellence Day. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports /
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23 Sep 2000: (Left to right) James Cracknell, Steve Redgrave, Tim Foster and Matthew Pinsent of the Great Britain team with their gold medals after victory in the Mens Coxless Fours final during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games at the Olympic Regatta Centre, Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wilson/ALLSPORT
23 Sep 2000: (Left to right) James Cracknell, Steve Redgrave, Tim Foster and Matthew Pinsent of the Great Britain team with their gold medals after victory in the Mens Coxless Fours final during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games at the Olympic Regatta Centre, Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wilson/ALLSPORT /

24. Steve Redgrave

The most famous Redgrave from the U.K. that doesn’t act in theatre and film, Steve Redgrave is revered as one of the greatest sports stars Britain has ever seen. Known as much for his affable demeanor and everyman qualities as he is for his absolute dominance in a rowing boat, the retired Olympian has since leveraged his celebrity status into a number of post-career opportunities, including launching his own brand of clothing, appearing in a Top Gear TV episode, and founding a rowing academy in India.

Redgrave came from humble beginnings but quickly made a name for himself in the 80s by winning back-to-back gold medals (and one bronze medal) at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics in Los Angeles and Seoul, respectively. By the time he was 30, Redgrave was universally considered to be the best rower on the planet. He took home two more gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, both coming in the coxless pair category of rowing, before famously telling reporters that “anybody who sees me in a boat (again) has my permission to shoot me.”

Less than a year later, however, Redgrave was indeed back in a boat, this time joined by two additional rowers hoping to help him place in the coxless four discipline. And place they did at the 2000 Sydney Games, capturing gold as heavy fan favorites. Redgrave, the darling of the United Kingdom, was able to officially go out as the most successful rower in Olympic history, and as the only person to win five gold medals at five Olympic Games in an endurance sport.

Next: 23. Hubert Van Innis

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